Deep hole drilling in glass and ceramics
ShapeFab produces high-precision deep-hole drilling in glass, ceramics and other brittle, hard materials. Small bore diameters, great drilling depths, high aspect ratios – with tolerances in the micrometre range. From single pieces to series production, ISO 9001 certified.
Our technology enables high-precision deep hole drilling in glass, ceramics, and other brittle, hard materials—manufactured precisely to your specifications. Thanks to special manufacturing technologies and many years of experience, we can produce custom-made drill holes, from single pieces to series production. Even high aspect ratios can be reliably implemented.
- Customized deep hole drilling in technical ceramics or glass according to customer specifications
- Small drill diameters and large drilling depths achievable
- Drilling tolerances in the µm range
- Prototype and series production
- Short quotation and delivery times, express delivery available on request
- Personal contact with many years of experience
Efficient CNC technology for deep hole drilling with the highest requirements
Conventional technologies quickly reach their physical limits when working with brittle or thin-walled materials such as glass and ceramics. With standard methods, high drilling depths often lead to stress cracks, spalling, or insufficient precision of the drill hole. ShapeFab uses specialized precision processes to drill deep holes in glass and ceramics in a material-friendly and process-reliable manner. This allows deep and complex drilling to be carried out reliably even in demanding areas – from semiconductor manufacturing and medical technology to industrial research.
Technical features at a glance
- Custom manufacturing based on drawings or STEP models
- Smooth bore walls and minimal chipping thanks to optimized CNC process
- Selectively polished surfaces possible
- Optionally also available with threaded connections or special connection points, etc.
Examples of materials:
- Borosilicate glass
- Fused silica
- glass ceramics
- technical ceramics
- Zerodur
- and many more
Manufacturable geometries:
- micro-drilling
- through holes
- blind holes
- Borehole arrays / Multiple boreholes
- Threads
- Inlet/outlet ports
- and other special shapes
Our CNC technology is used in numerous high-tech industries wherever precise drilling in brittle materials is required. It opens up new possibilities in component design by allowing holes to be integrated directly into sensitive components. Examples include:
- Semiconductor industry: e.g., wafer chucks with cooling holes, precision housings for sensors
- Medical technology & life sciences: lab-on-chip and microfluidic components, diagnostic devices
- Optics & laser technology: precision apertures, laser components with integrated cooling channels, fiber technology
- Analysis and measurement technology: flow cells, sensory components made of ceramic or glass
Research & Development: Prototypes and special components for experimental applications
Why ShapeFab?
- Over 27 years of experience in the precision machining of hard, brittle materials
- Innovative combination of grinding, lapping, and polishing technologies on a single CNC machine (details)
- ISO certified, development and manufacturing in Germany
- Personal consultation by our technical experts
- Short quotation and delivery times, express deliveries available on request